Dog Abandonment

Make A Commitment To Your Dog

I was just thinking about the many abandoned dogs and cats. The homeless animals living in the shelters and streets. It made me think of this video I posted a while back on dog abandonment.

Before you decide to pick up that adorable kitten or cute cuddly puppy remember that you need to give that pet love and attention for it’s lifetime. If you’re getting a cat or dog this can easily be a 10+ year commitment (with my dogs I hope it’s much, much longer). Make sure you think about that…”Where will I be in the next 10 years?”

Dog Abandonment

Photo by Aplomb

Give Your Dog Lots Of Love And Attention

We always had a family dog growing up. Our dogs were outdoor dogs, but they were still a major part of the family. As kids we tried to sneak our dogs into the house when my mom and dad weren’t looking.

Throughout my life I always wanted to have an indoor dog that could bond more closely with me and get showered with love and attention. Five years ago I did just that when I brought Linus home from the Carson Animal Shelter I wanted my dog to be an integral part of the family, not just a possession. I made sure I took Linus to training including puppy kindergarten and three basic obedience classes to date.

When you take your dog to training class, work on his basic obedience, behavioral issues, and treat him like a member of your family you form a special bond. Many dogs are turned over to shelters because of behavior problems that are manageable and could have been prevented with proper training. Today I could not fathom ever abandoning my dogs or turning them into the local shelter. They are family members.

The Importance Of Dog Training

I see many people falling in love with puppies because they are adorable, cute, and cuddly. However, I also see them fall out of love with these same puppies as they grow up. Why do so many people fall out of love with their puppies? It’s my thought that by the time their puppies enter adolescence and adulthood they do not receive proper training and become unmanageable without basic obedience and also may manifest specific behavioral issues without early and ongoing training.

I think that dog training can be the simple fix to this problem. Dog training can sometimes be as simple as getting the latest dog training book, DVD, or online training resource and applying the techniques to your dog on a consistent basis. I’m also a major advocate of group dog training and believe that the socialization of your puppy is invaluable for teaching him about the world outside the home. Private in house training is another great option for any behavioral issues you may be encountering and also gives a trainer the chance to see how your dog behaves at home.

I’m not too sure what today’s rant was all about, but I guess I just had some things I felt like expressing today. After reading through my thoughts I guess the moral of today’s story is:

First think about the commitment your making when you get a dog and
Second if you do get a dog make sure you give him love, attention, and training.

What do you think? How important is dog training for you and your dog?

Why Would You Abandon Your Dog?

I’ve noticed lately that dog abandonment issues have become more prevalent in the news. The increase in home foreclosures and people not able to pay their mortgages have led to people not only leaving their homes, but also leaving their dogs behind as well.

It’s true that dog abandonment has shown up in the news recently, but this has been a problem for quite some time as seen by the overcrowded animal shelters. Every day of the week people abandon their dogs at their foreclosed home, at the animal shelters, and on the side of the road.

Here’s a video I came across reading through one of the many blogs. I think it came from Johann the Agility dog’s blog, but couldn’t find it when I searched through his blog. I searched the YouTube archives and luckily found the video on their site.

Dog Abandonment

A sad tale of dog abandonment:

Why Would You Abandon Your Dog?

We already mentioned one reason why people abandon their dogs…home foreclosure/money issues. Here are a few others that I’ve heard of:

House Training Problems – It can sometime be difficult to house train your dog, but please take the time and be consistent and persistent. If you are having difficulties with house training please contact a local dog trainer or even leave me a comment and I’ll see what I can do to help.
Veterinary Costs – Veterinary bills can be high, but if you don’t have the means to take care of your dog or puppy then you should not take one into your home in the first place. You might consider pet insurance if you’re having trouble keeping up with vet bills. I’ve not used pet insurance in the past, so be sure to do your due diligence before signing up with any pet insurance company.
Barking - I used to have this issue with my dog Linus. We talked to our trainer and came up with possible solutions. He almost never barks when I’m home and I think he only barks when he hears sounds around my house when he’s home alone. Unfortunately, I can’t stay with Linus all the time and have to sometimes leave him alone. We use the Citronella Anti-Bark Dog Collar which works great in my dog barking situation.
Hyperactivity – Hyperactivity and destructive behavior can be a problem. This can be more a luck of the draw when you get a new dog or puppy. It’s a fact that some dogs are hyperactive. For instance, my parents dogs is in non-stop motion. If you’re having issues with a hyperactive dog you should consult a professional dog trainer. My suggestion is to make sure you give you dog ample exercise. This can often times bring down their activity level and curb destructive behavior.
Aggression - I sometimes have issues with Linus and his aggression towards other dogs. In general Linus is very easy going and gentle with people. However, he is a bit shy and timid. He’s often afraid of other dogs and shows this by being aggressive, lunging, and barking. We are right now working on changing this behavior by attending obedience class. Our goal is to expose Linus to other dogs that are well-behaved in hopes that he will be less fearful and less aggressive. Here’s the first article I wrote on Linus’s obedience training: Linus A Shy Timid Dog

Dog abandonment is an issue as can be seen by our overcrowded animal shelters. If you’re considering abandoning you dog because of one of the above behavior issues then please consult a professional dog trainer first. Most of these issues can be solved by simply working with your dog or puppy. More training and interaction with your dog will help you build a closer bond and maybe you will better understand your dogs needs and your dog will better understand yours.

What experiences have you had with dog abandonment?